Page 168 of Aftersome
“Thank you for coming back.”
And with one final response, I dropped a kiss on her head and said, “I never should have left.”
59
WREN
Iwasn’t expecting company tonight, but when the firm pounding of a fist on my door increased, I began to fear the worst. In only a pair of cotton shorts and an off-the-shoulder top, I rushed over to the front door and quickly swung it open.
What I didn’t expect to see was a frantic Mal peering down at me like he wanted to pull me into his arms.
“Mal? What… What are you doing here?” I asked in stunned confusion as I crossed my arms over my chest and looked skeptically at the beautiful man in front of me.
God, he looked like he hadn't slept in days.
Did he drive here overnight?
“Can I come in?” His voice sounded strained and almost pained as he looked so unsure of himself.
Instead of answering, I stepped to the side to let him in. At first, he just stood there unmoving. I hated it.
I hated how uncertain he looked.
How we were acting like total complete strangers when in reality we were anything but.
His eyes wavered into my home before sweeping over to me and as I watched his chest exhale, he shot forward.
“Fuck it.”
His hand had found the curve of my cheek and before I knew it, his lips were colliding with mine. Lips that I had dreamed about. Lips that I had missed so much, were finally pressed against mine as if he never wanted to separate us again.
After being away from him for the past week, I needed him closer. So, finding his arm, I moved it to the back of my thigh where he had quickly caught on and lifted me into the air where I could wrap my legs around him.
“God, I missed you so much,” he said between kisses.
I didn’t care that I was still mad at him for pushing me away. I didn’t care that he would probably do it again, all that I cared about was that he was here.
He was here for me.
Tangling my hands in his hair, I couldn’t get enough of him. I wanted more and more but as his mouth slid down to the slope of my neck, I knew I couldn’t let anything more happen.
As much as I wanted more.
“Mal…” I groaned as he nipped along my collarbone.
“I’m so sorry, Doe,” he spoke along my skin, causing a cluster of goosebumps to emerge. “For everything. All the terrible fucking things I said, for pushing you away.”
My eyes filled with tears and I knew I needed out of his arms to hear this. So using the heel of my palm, I pushed on his chest until his mouth separated from my neck and I was being lowered onto the ground.
He looked panicky and distressed at my sudden wanting to stop, but he gave me space.
“Blue’s Words,” he said, causing me to go stiff. “I read it yesterday. I didn’t know about it until James told me to look it up.”
Dammit, James.
“You were only trying to protect me, weren’t you? Trying to save me from drowning in my own sorrow?” He ran a hand through his hair as his eyes never once wavered from mine.
My lip wobbled on a nod.
